5 arrested after attack on 12 year old girl

Police are appealing for witnesses after an unprovoked attack on a twelve year old girl in the grounds of the Mountbatten Centre near Northern Parade in Portsmouth.

At around 5.35pm on Tuesday a 12-year-old girl, who had been playing in the park, went to leave on her bicycle as it was getting dark.

A group of teenagers were in the park. One of them approached the girl and put a stick into her back wheel, causing her to fall from the bike. One of the teenagers then got onto her bike and cycled off while the rest of the group started to assault the girl as she was on the ground.

The victim sustained cuts and bruising. The pink mountain bike she was riding has since been recovered by police. Five teenagers were arrested on suspicion of robbery, questioned, and bailed until March 20.

"The robbery took place in a popular area for joggers and dog walkers. It seems the girl was picked on by the group while she was at the playground. Police were in the area at the time, recovered the bike, and made several arrests. I am hoping that someone in the area may have seen what happened."